University LIfe
- Participants were split into two groups for the language courses at IBEU (pronounced ee-bay-oh). A beginner class for students with limited experience with the Portuguese language and an advanced class for intermediate and fluent Portuguese speakers. Students are expected to actively participate in class and can expect to have some homework for the language course but nothing too extensive. Towards the end of the program, students will has to take an oral and written exam to assess their progress in learning or mastering the Portuguese language.
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| IBEU Entrance |
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| Classroom - SmartBoard |
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| Classroom View |
- Business seminars are held at the PUC (pronounced pu-kee) campus. There you will be exposed to Brazilian campus life and find students from all over the world. Many of the working professionals that we’ve met on company visits are graduates from PUC. In addition to language courses and the business lectures, there will be several company visits during your time in Rio De Janeiro. You can expect to visit companies from Brazil’s booming oil and gas industry and their growing finance sector among others. With the knowledge and insight gained from the lectures, you are also required to submit weekly reports discussing what you’ve learned about the Brazilian business environment.
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| PUC Campus - Front Entrance |
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| 1st Company Visit |
- Students at PUC do not have uniforms. Rather, the students dress in casual attire similar to us in the states; it won’t be hard to find students with t-shirts, shorts, and flip flops. Within the PUC campus, there are several dining options within the Edificio de Amorado plaza (similar to our Reitz Union). In addtion, there is a large cafeteria downstairs, in the basement, where you can get a well balanced meal for just 6 Reals (a real bargain considering how expensive other places can be). In addition, there is a small café near our the IAG-PUC part of campus where you can get a small class before class or during intermission.
- There are many ways you can get to the PUC campus from IBEU. If you have the time and wish to take the scenic route, you can walk to PUC from IBEU in 30-40 minutes. A cheaper and quicker alternative is to take the bus (Routes 432 and 435) to get to PUC. However, you will have to do some research to find the nearest bus stops and the stop that you need to get off at. The easiest way to get to PUC is to take a taxi cab. Taking a taxi can be even cheaper (and quicker) if share your cab with 3-4 of your peers. The “summer” months (May, June, July, and August) for us are technically the winter months in Rio. Therefore, when you get out of class at PUC, it will most likely be dark outside. Since Rio is such a big city, it is strongly recommended that you travel in groups at night and take a cab to go home.